them of crimes that they had not committed, and finally, although he had
no mission to them at the time, extracted great gifts, saying that if
these were not forthcoming he would make a note and return later. Also
he got hold of tale-bearers, and wrote down all their scandalous and
lying stories told against those whose bread they ate.

Thus, long before they saw Charing Cross, Cicely came to hate this
proud, avaricious and overbearing man, who hid a savage nature under a
cloak of virtue, and whilst serving his own ends, mouthed great words
about God and the King. Still, she who was schooled in adversity,
learned to hide her heart, fearing to make an enemy of one who could
ruin her, and forced Emlyn, much against her will, to do the same.
Moreover, there were worse things than that since, being beautiful, some
of his companions talked to her in a way she could not misunderstand,
till at length Thomas Bolle, coming on one of them, thrashed him as he
had never been thrashed before, after which there was trouble that was
only appeased by a gift.

Yet on the whole things went well. No one molested the King's Visitor
or those with him, the autumn weather held fine, the baby boy kept his
health, and the country through which they passed was new to her and
full of interest.

At last one evening they rode from Barnet into the great city, which she
thought a most marvellous place, who had never seen such a multitude of
houses or of men running to and fro about their business up and down the
narrow streets that at night were lit with lamps. Now there had been a
great discussion where they were to lodge, Dr. Legh saying that he knew
of a house suitable to them. But Emlyn would not hear of this place,
where she was sure they would be robbed, for the wealth that they
carried secretly in jewels bore heavily on her mind. Remembering a
cousin of her mother's of the name of Smith, a goldsmith, who till
within a year or two before was alive and dwelling in Cheapside, she
said that they would seek him out.

Thither then they rode, guided by one of the Visitor's clerks, not he
whom Bolle had beaten, but another, and at last, after some search,
found a dingy house in a court and over it a sign on which were painted
three balls and the name of Jacob Smith. Emlyn dismounted and, the door
being open, entered, to be greeted by an old, white-bearded man with
horn spectacles thrust up over his forehead and dark eyes like her own,
since the s